[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35613-35617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14069]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Information To
Be Verified for the 2014-2015 Award Year
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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[CFDA Nos. 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, and 84.268]
SUMMARY: For each award year, the Secretary publishes in the Federal
Register a notice announcing the FAFSA information that an institution
and an applicant may be required to verify. The notice also specifies
what documentation is acceptable for verifying FAFSA information.
For the 2014-2015 award year, the Secretary announces, through this
notice, the FAFSA information subject to, and the documentation
acceptable for, verification.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn C. Butler, U.S. Department
of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, 1990 K Street NW.,
room 8053, Washington, DC 20006. Telephone: (202) 502-7890.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact
disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following chart lists, for the 2014-2015
award year, the FAFSA information that an institution and an applicant
and, if appropriate, the applicant's parent(s) or spouse, may be
required to verify under 34 CFR 668.56. The chart also lists the
acceptable documentation that must be provided under Sec. 668.57 to an
institution for that information to be
[[Page 35614]]
verified. The Secretary will include on the applicant's Institutional
Student Information Record (ISIR) flags that will indicate which FAFSA
information needs to be verified for that applicant and, if
appropriate, the applicant's parent(s) or spouse. The Student Aid
Report (SAR) provided to the applicant will indicate that the
applicant's FAFSA information has been selected for verification and
direct the applicant to the institution for further instructions for
completing the verification process.
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FAFSA information Acceptable documentation
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Income information for tax For income information listed under items
filers 1 3. a through g for tax filers--
a. Adjusted Gross Income 1) Tax year 2013 information that the
(AGI). Secretary has identified as having
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid...... been obtained from the Internal
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA Revenue Service (IRS) through the IRS
Distributions. Data Retrieval Tool \2\ and that has
d. Untaxed Portions of not been changed after the
Pensions. information was obtained from the
e. IRA Deductions and IRS; or
Payments. 2) A transcript \2\ obtained from the IRS
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income that lists tax account information of
g. Education Credits......... the tax filer for tax year 2013.
(34 CFR 668.57(a)).
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h. Other Untaxed Income...... For tax filers required to verify other
untaxed income, a statement signed by
the applicant and, if the applicant is a
dependent student, by one of the
applicant's parents, that lists--
1) The sources of other untaxed income
as provided under section 480(b) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA) and the amounts of
income from each source for tax year
2013; and
2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \4\ for each
source of employment income received
for tax year 2013.
(34 CFR 668.57(a)).
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Income information for tax 1) For a student or the parent(s) of a
filers with special dependent student who filed a 2013
circumstances 1 3. joint income tax return and whose
a. Adjusted Gross Income income is used in the calculation of
(AGI). the applicant's expected family
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid...... contribution, who at the time the
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA FAFSA was completed, was separated,
Distributions. divorced, widowed, or married to
d. Untaxed Portions of someone other than the individual
Pensions. included on the 2013 joint income tax
e. IRA Deductions and return--
Payments. a) A transcript \2\ obtained from the IRS
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income that lists tax account information of
g. Education Credits......... the tax filer(s) for tax year 2013; and
b) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \4\ for each
source of employment income received for
tax year 2013.
2) For an individual who is required
to file a 2013 IRS income tax return
and has been granted a filing
extension by the IRS--
a) A copy of IRS Form 4868,
``Application for Automatic
Extension of Time to File U.S.
Individual Income Tax Return,''
that the individual filed with the
IRS for tax year 2013;
b) If applicable, a copy of the
IRS's approval of an extension
beyond the automatic six-month
extension if the individual
requested an additional extension
of the filing time for tax year
2013;
c) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \4\ for
each source of employment income
received for tax year 2013; and
d) If self-employed, a signed
statement certifying the amount of
AGI and U.S. income tax paid for
tax year 2013.
Note: An institution may require that an
individual granted a filing extension
submit tax information using the IRS
Data Retrieval Tool \2\ or by obtaining
a transcript \2\ from the IRS that lists
tax account information for tax year
2013, after the income tax return is
filed. When an institution receives such
information, it must reverify the FAFSA
information.
h. Other Untaxed Income...... 3) For tax filers with special
circumstances who are required to
verify other untaxed income, a
statement signed by the applicant
and, if the applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the applicant's
parents, that lists the sources of
other untaxed income as provided
under section 480(b) of the HEA and
the amounts of income from each
source for tax year 2013.
(34 CFR 668.57(a)).
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Income information for nontax For an individual who has not filed and,
filers. under IRS rules or other applicable
a. Income earned from work... government agency rules, is not required
b. Other Untaxed Income...... to file a 2013 income tax return--
1) A signed statement certifying--
a) That the individual has not filed
and is not required to file an
income tax return for tax year
2013;
b) The sources of income earned from
work and amounts of income from
each source for tax year 2013; and
c) For nontax filers required to
verify other untaxed income, the
source of income as provided under
section 480(b) of the HEA and the
amounts of income from each source
for tax year 2013; and
2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \4\ for each
source of employment income received
for tax year 2013; or
3) If an institution has reason to
believe that the signed statement
provided by the applicant regarding
whether that applicant has not filed
and is not required to file a 2013
income tax return is inaccurate, the
institution may request that the
applicant obtain confirmation from
the IRS.
[[Page 35615]]
(34 CFR 668.57(a)).
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Number of Household A statement signed by the applicant and,
Members. if the applicant is a dependent student,
by one of the applicant's parents, that
lists the name and age of each household
member and the relationship of that
household member to the applicant.
Note: Verification of number of household
members is not required if:
For a dependent student, the
household size reported on the FAFSA
is two and the parent is single,
separated, divorced, or widowed; or
the household size reported is three
if the parents are married or
unmarried and living together; or
For an independent student,
the household size reported on the
FAFSA is one and the applicant is
single, separated, divorced, or
widowed; or the household size
reported is two if the applicant is
married.
(34 CFR 668.57(b)).
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Number in College... 1) A statement signed by the applicant
and, if the applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the applicant's
parents, listing the name and age of
each household member who is or will be
attending an eligible postsecondary
educational institution as at least a
half-time student in the 2014-2015 award
year and the name of that educational
institution.
2) If an institution has reason to
believe that the signed statement
provided by the applicant regarding the
number of household members enrolled in
eligible postsecondary institutions is
inaccurate, the institution must obtain
a statement from each institution named
by the applicant that the household
member in question is, or will be,
attending on at least a half-time basis
unless--
a) The institution the applicant is
attending determines that such a
statement is not available because
the household member in question has
not yet registered at the institution
he or she plans to attend; or
b) The institution has information
indicating that the household member
in question will be attending the
same institution as the applicant.
Note: Verification of the number of
household members in college is not
required if the number in college
indicated on the ISIR is `1'.
(34 CFR 668.57(c)).
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Supplemental 1) A statement signed by the applicant
Nutrition Assistance Program or, if the applicant is a dependent
(SNAP-Food Stamps). student, by one of the applicant's
parents, affirming that SNAP-Food Stamps
benefits were received by someone in the
household during the 2012 and/or 2013
calendar years.
2) If an institution has reason to
believe that the signed statement
provided by the applicant regarding the
receipt of SNAP-Food Stamps benefits is
inaccurate, the applicant must provide
the institution with documentation from
the agency that issued the SNAP-Food
Stamps benefits.
Note: Verification of the receipt of SNAP-
Food Stamps benefits is not required if
the receipt of SNAP benefits is not
indicated on the applicant's ISIR.
(34 CFR 668.57(d)).
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Child Support Paid.. 1) A statement signed by the applicant or
parent, as appropriate, certifying--
a) The amount of child support paid;
b) The name of the person who paid the
child support;
c) The name of the person to whom
child support was paid; and
d) The names of the children for whom
child support was paid.
2) If the institution has reason to
believe that the information provided in
the signed statement is inaccurate, the
institution must obtain documentation,
such as--
a) A copy of the separation agreement
or divorce decree that shows the
amount of child support to be
provided;
b) A statement from the individual
receiving the child support showing
the amount provided; or
c) Documentation that the child
support payments were made (e.g.,
copies of the child support checks,
money order receipts, or similar
records of electronic payments having
been made).
Note: Verification of child support paid
is not required if child support paid is
not indicated on the applicant's ISIR.
(34 CFR 668.57(d)).
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High School 1) High School Diploma
Completion Status.
a) A copy of the applicant's high
school diploma;
b) A copy of the applicant's final
official high school transcript that
shows the date when the diploma was
awarded; or
c) A copy of the ``secondary school
leaving certificate'' (or other
similar document) for students who
completed secondary education in a
foreign country and are unable to
obtain a copy of their high school
diploma or transcript.
Note: Institutions that have the
expertise may evaluate foreign secondary
school credentials to determine their
equivalence to U.S. high school
diplomas. Institutions may also use the
services of a foreign diploma evaluation
service.
2) Recognized Equivalent of a High School
Diploma
a) General Educational Development
(GED) Certificate or GED transcript;
[[Page 35616]]
b) A State certificate received by a
student after the student has passed
a State-authorized examination that
the State recognizes as the
equivalent of a high school diploma;
c) An academic transcript that
indicates the student successfully
completed at least a two-year program
that is acceptable for full credit
toward a bachelor's degree at any
participating institution; or
d) For a person who is seeking
enrollment in an educational program
that leads to at least an associate
degree or its equivalent and has not
completed high school but has
excelled academically in high school,
documentation from the high school
that the student excelled
academically in high school and
documentation from the postsecondary
institution that the student has met
the formalized, written policies of
the postsecondary institution for
admitting such students.
3) Homeschool
a) If the State where the student was
homeschooled requires by law that
such students obtain a secondary
school completion credential for
homeschool (other than a high school
diploma or its recognized
equivalent), a copy of that
credential.
b) If State law does not require a
homeschooled student to obtain a
secondary school completion
credential for homeschool (other than
a high school diploma or its
recognized equivalent), a transcript
or the equivalent, signed by the
student's parent or guardian, that
lists the secondary school courses
the student completed and documents
the successful completion of a
secondary school education in a
homeschool setting.
Note: In cases where documentation of an
applicant's completion of a secondary
school education is unavailable, e.g.,
the secondary school is closed and
information is not available from
another source such as the local school
district or a State Department of
Education, or in the case of
homeschooling, the parent(s)/guardian(s)
who provided the homeschooling is
deceased, an institution may accept
alternative documentation to verify the
applicant's high school completion
status.
When documenting an applicant's high
school completion status, an institution
may rely on documentation it has already
collected for purposes other than the
Title IV verification requirements, if
the documentation meets the criteria
outlined above.
(34 CFR 600.2, 668.32(e)(1) and (e)(4)).
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Identity/Statement 1) An applicant must appear in person and
of Educational Purpose. present the following documentation to
an institutionally authorized individual
to verify the applicant's identity:
a) A valid government-issued photo
identification such as, but not
limited to, a driver's license, non-
driver's identification card, other
State-issued identification, or
passport; and
b) A signed statement using the exact
language as follows, except that the
student's identification number is
optional if collected elsewhere on
the same page as the statement:
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I ------------------------
am
(Print Student's Name)
the individual signing this Statement of
Educational Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I may
receive will be used only for
educational purposes and to pay the cost
of attending ------------------------
for 2014-2015.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational
Institution)
------------------------------------------
(Student's Signature)
------------------------------------------
(Date)
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(Student's ID Number)
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2) For an applicant who appears in
person, an institution must maintain an
annotated copy of the valid government-
issued photo identification that
includes--
a) The date the identification was
received; and
b) The name of the institutionally
authorized individual who received
the identification.
3) If an institution determines that an
applicant is unable to appear in person,
he or she must provide the institution
with--
a) A copy of a valid government-issued
photo identification such as, but not
limited to, a driver's license, non-
driver's identification card, other
State-issued identification, or
passport that is acknowledged in the
notary statement; and
b) An original notarized statement
signed by the applicant using the
exact language as follows, except
that the student's identification
number is optional if collected
elsewhere on the same page as the
statement:
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I ------------------------
am
(Print Student's Name)
the individual signing this Statement of
Educational Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I may
receive will only be used for
educational purposes and to pay the cost
of attending ------------------------
for 2014-2015.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational
Institution)
------------------------------------------
[[Page 35617]]
(Student's Signature)
------------------------------------------
(Date)
------------------------------------------
(Student's ID Number)
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(34 CFR 668.57(d)).
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\1\ A tax filer who filed an income tax return other than an IRS form,
such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, must use the income
information (converted to U.S. dollars) from the lines of that form
that correspond most closely to the income information reported on a
U.S. income tax return.
\2\ An institution may accept a copy of a 2013 income tax return for tax
filers who are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or obtain an
IRS Tax Return Transcript consistent with guidance that the Secretary
may provide (e.g., victims of identity theft, individuals who filed an
amended tax return, individuals who filed an income tax return other
than an IRS form or individuals with authentication issues with the
IRS). The copy must include the signature of the tax filer or of one
of the filers of a joint income tax return or the signed, stamped,
typed, or printed name and address of the preparer of the income tax
return and the preparer's Social Security Number, Employer
Identification Number, or Preparer Tax Identification Number.
\3\ If a tax filer did not retain a copy of his or her 2013 tax account
information and that information cannot be located by the IRS or a
government of a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign central
government, the institution must accept--
a) A copy of IRS Form W-2 (see footnote 4), for each source of
employment income received for tax year 2013 and, if self-employed, a
signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and taxes paid for that
self-employment for tax year 2013; or
b) A copy of a wage and tax statement or a signed statement by an
individual who has filed an income tax return with a government of a
U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign central government
certifying the amount of AGI and taxes paid for tax year 2013.
\4\ If an individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W-2 is unable
to obtain one in a timely manner, the institution may permit that
individual to provide a signed statement, in accordance with 34 CFR
668.57(a)(6), that includes--
a) The amount of income earned from work;
b) The source of that income; and
c) The reason why the IRS Form W-2 is not available in a timely manner.
Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process
in the following resources:
2014-2015 Application and Verification Guide.
2014-2015 ISIR Guide.
2014-2015 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
2014-2015 COD Technical Reference.
Program Integrity Information--Questions and Answers on
Verification at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html.
These publications are on the Information for Financial Aid
Professionals Web site at www.ifap.ed.gov.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a, 1070a-1, 1070b-1070b-4,
1070c-1070c-4, 1070g, 1071-1087-2, 1087a-1087j, and 1087aa-1087ii;
42 U.S.C. 2751-2756b.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated
authority to Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary for Vocational
and Adult Education, to perform the functions and duties of the
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
Dated: June 7, 2013.
Brenda Dann-Messier,
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, delegated the
authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-14069 Filed 6-12-13; 8:45 am]
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